The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-10-21
The PuBLIc DOMAIN.

Interesting Facts Contained in the An
nuaI Report of Land Commissioner
Sparks = Enormous Frauds and Grabs
Unearthed = Reforms In the Laws Rec
commended.
WASHINGTON, Oct 15~-Land Commission
er Sparks, in his annilal REPORT tc the Secre-
tary of the interior, says that he has no word
to recall that has hitherto been uttered
touching the aggravated misarpropria-
items to which public lands have been
subjected through improvident laws and
inefficient methods of administration, ard
to which they are still exposed under the
present wasteful and fraud inspiring system
of disposal The report says:
"Since March 4, 1885, 81, sa4 ,4s1 acres have
been restored to the public domain. The
sales, entries and selections OF public
land for the fiscal year ended
June SO 1887, embrace s5,1l1, zoe
acres and of Indian lands 1869
acres, making total of 2lS5S,03S acres, being
an increase over 1886 Of 3733,474 acres
and an increase OF 1885,, 524 acres over 1885,.
The receipts from the disposal of pub
lie lands. are Slo,SsS, sa1; from sales
of Indian lands. $1,4 S4,32, a total OF
$12, a6S224, being an increase over $50 of So
237, 727, to which is to be added IS, 291 received
on account of timber depredations and S12 493
received for certified copies of records, makiI *
the total receipts a12, $50 00s.n
On the subject Of the forfeiture of railroad
and-grants the commissioner quotes from
his last annual report, and adds: Il renew
INSTRUMENTATION that forfeiture be de
clared in ali cases in which the roads were
not completed within the time and in the
manner conditioned in the respective
grants
- AS result of the investigation of fraudu-
lent land entries during the year, 2,312 en-
tries, covering about $40, 900 acres, were
held for cancellation, and 1853 entries.
covering about $50, 600 acres, were Can celed
for fraud On this subject the commissioner
says:
'Bold, reckless and gigantic schemes to rob
the Government ofits~lands have been discov.
cred and exr osed in every State and Territory
containing public lands. Men of intelligence
and high standing il the community, in many
instances millionaires, We're the leaders
in these unlawful transactions Over
5000 cases have been discovered
wherein perjury or sLbordination of perjury was
committed. In q majority Of cases the officers
before whom the proofs or other papers were
executed, largely State and Terrtor al officers
not directly responsible to the Land Depart
ment, ver7 cogniz4nt of the fraud, or coul4
have become so by ordinary diligence.
THE entire or general cessation Of fraud can
not be expected so long as the facilities offered
for its rerpetuation by existing laws are so
great and the means provided for their proven
ton are SO small Upward of 1000 unexam-
med cases are now on the files of this Office in
which fraud has been charged by an affidavit
or information or in which evidences of fraud
are indicated"
One thousand and eleven cases of timber
depredations or timber trespass have been
reported on during the year, involving a
value in timber and product of Sc, 146,935
recoverable to the United States The
amount actually recovered through judg-
ments, fines, etc, is 1923 $40. On the sub
ject of "Reform in the Public-Land Laws"
the Commissioner says:
"AlI efforts to secure a reform in the land
laws by repeal or amendments of particular
acts and provisions have failed through the
opposition of interests at variance with pro-
posed legislation. lam satisfied that amend
ments in detail are impracticable. The
time for tinkering has passed. Existing
systems of disposal, fundamentally de-
fective in the original instance, have become
wholly unsuited to present conditions. What
is needed, in my opinion, is an entire reforma-
ton of existing laws, retaining an absolute
homestead and obSolel1ng all other forms or
disposal of agricultural lands. Actual
residence, Improvement ana cultivation
for the homestead period Of five years should be
the exclusive condition Of acquiring title to such
lands. 1t would also appear that the time has
arrived when the privilege of approprating
public lands should be confined to cit zens of
the United States. The mineral laws should
be so amended as to preserve the public
right of mineral explorations to citizens Of the
United States and to prevent a monopoly of
AnatiVe mineral wealth by individuals and cor
porations."
The Commissioner asks for increased help
and an increased appropriation to carry out
the reforms required.